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Search forDaring submariner was an irritant to the enemy
Thursday, November 13, 2008, 23:00
Rear Admiral Michael Kyrle- Pope made no less than four attempts to escape from a succession of prisoner of war camps after being taken captive in 1940.
His first bid for freedom came when he hid in the roof above the Italian officers' mess for several days while being held on an island off Venice.
It was only when he clambered down one night to steal a boat that he was recaptured, handcuffed and sent to another camp.
One of his early tunnels was then only discovered when a donkey fell into it.
And his daring escape attempts continued even when he was incarcerated in the medieval fortress of Gavi — known as the Italian Colditz — and then the 14th-century former monastery at Padula.
Mr Kyrle-Pope was awarded the MBE after the war for his determination to engineer an escape.
The submariner, who first went to sea aged 11 and joined the Royal Navy in 1938, rose to the rank of rear admiral after going on to serve with naval intelligence.
And his colourful life was commemorated by friends, family and former colleagues at St Peter's Church in Tiverton last Wednesday.
The service was conducted by Rev Robert Gordon and featured readings, hymns and poems, and a detachment of standard bearers from the Royal Naval Association and representatives of the Royal Navy.
Readings included Revelations Chapter 21, verses 1-7 and Crossing the Bar by Alfred Tennyson. The service closed with a bugler playing the Last Post and, following a minute's silence, the Reveille.
Members of Tiverton Sea Cadets also attended, Darrell Holland carried Mr Kyrle-Pope's medals into church and was escorted by cadets Kacey Gallard and Jasmin Rumblelow.
A reception was held after the service at Blundell's School, Tiverton.
During his address, son James Kyrle-Pope said: "His long life really was a roller coaster of achievement and dangerous times."
James added that his father "would have been delighted to see so many shipmates here today".
Mr Kyrle-Pope and second wife Suzanne moved to Tiverton to be near their daughter Emma, who was married to the headmaster of Blundell's School.
James said: "Pa used to love standing on the sidelines watching the Blundell's rugby matches and he had played rugby and hockey himself while at school."
Mr Kyrle-Pope's son added that his father had been "extremely well looked after" at Castle Grove Nursing Home in Bampton.
Many of the incidents of Michael's post-war career were recorded by Suzanne in the book The Same Wife in Every Port published in 1998.
Mr Kyrle-Pope, who was born on October 1, 1916, died aged 91 on September 14 this year and is survived by his wife Suzanne, their son and daughter and a step-daughter.
Rear Admiral Michael Kyrle-Pope was remembered at a service in Tiverton last week. Inset: wife Suzanne thanks standard bearers outside the service MARCUS THOMPSON MDG051108_MT06_16
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